Oliver Solberg Extends Rallye Monte-Carlo Lead Past One Minute After Commanding Friday Drive

Gap, France: Oliver Solberg continued his stunning Rallye Monte-Carlo debut on Friday, producing another calm and assured performance to extend his overall lead beyond one minute as the FIA World Rally Championship season opener unfolded in the French Alps.

Competing in just his first event as a full-season Rally1 driver, the Toyota Gazoo Racing star defied expectations by holding off sustained pressure from some of the sport’s most experienced names. After nine stages, Solberg ended Friday with a 1min 08.4sec advantage, underlining his growing authority at the head of the field.

Friday’s six-stage leg presented a very different challenge to Thursday night’s dramatic opener. Snow and slush in the morning gradually gave way to mud, standing water and deep ruts in the afternoon, forcing constant adaptation across the demanding Alpine tests.

Solberg wasted no time asserting control, claiming victory on SS4 before suffering a front-left puncture on the opening pass of Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert / La Motte-Chalancon. Rather than retreat into damage limitation, the Swede responded emphatically, topping the times on the next two stages to re-establish a commanding lead.

“It’s been incredible, really, really incredible,” said Solberg. “The goal was to stay consistent all day and try to stay out of problems. Of course, we had the slow puncture, but the rest has been really good. There’s still a crazy long way to go, but for now it’s been a very good day.”

Intense Fight for Second as Ogier Closes on Evans

Behind the leader, Friday developed into an increasingly intense battle for second place. Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver Elfyn Evans began the day 24.4 seconds clear of nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, but that margin steadily shrank as conditions worsened.

Evans briefly reduced Solberg’s overall advantage by winning SS5 and SS8, yet Ogier mounted a relentless charge. A blistering run through the night-time La-Bâtie-des-Fontes / Aspremont stage saw Ogier slash Evans’ advantage to just 6.5 seconds by day’s end.

Evans admitted fluctuating confidence throughout the leg, with mud, ruts and poor visibility making commitment difficult across the changing stages.

Drama and Recovery for Hyundai Crews

Fourth overnight was Adrien Fourmaux, whose position masked a challenging afternoon. The Hyundai driver battled ongoing electronic issues affecting both the fuel pump and handbrake on his i20 N Rally1, yet still finished more than a minute ahead of team-mate Thierry Neuville.

Neuville’s day unravelled on SS9, when a muddy cut dragged his car into a ditch just two kilometres into the stage. After being pushed free by spectators, the Belgian lost over three minutes and dropped to fifth overall, describing the leg as “a struggle”.

Armstrong, Paddon and WRC2 Runners Complete Top 10

After earlier tyre issues, Jon Armstrong opted for a survival-first strategy in the final loop, bringing his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 home in sixth. Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon ended Friday seventh after a cautious but constructive day, overcoming a stall on SS9 and steadily building confidence.

WRC2 contenders Léo Rossel, Eric Camilli and Nikolay Gryazin rounded out the top 10.

It was a difficult day for Takamoto Katsuta, who slipped to 12th overall following tyre problems and power-steering failure, while Josh McErlean retired after sliding off the road on SS9.

The rally continues on Saturday as crews head south from Gap to Monaco, facing four stages culminating in a spectacular super special stage inside the Principality.

Standings after Friday (SS9 / 17):